History of Music, Mr. Robert L. Johnston
Jazz/Joe “King” Oliver (1885-1938) & Louis Armstrong (19011971)
Aim:
To meet two of the progenitors of American Jazz.
Instructional Objectives:
At the conclusion of this unit, students will:
I.
Have an understanding of some of the geographical
birthplaces of Jazz.
II. Have met two crucial figures in the birth and
development of American Jazz.
III. Have heard a representation of this music.
Motivation:
The Harvard Brief Dictionary of Music defines Jazz as
the, “General term for the 20th century development of
American popular music. Most of the various types of jazz
developed in the Negro districts of the large cities of the
South (New Orleans, St Louis) and spread to Chicago and New
York, where they were commercialized. The word jazz, of
uncertain origin, first appeared in print in 1916.”
Development/Procedures:
I.
Joe “King” Oliver
a. Moved to New Orleans in his youth
b. Played cornet in Brass and Dance Bands
c. Oliver’s band with Kid Ory was considered New
Orleans’ best in the 1910’s
d. Crossed racial lines
i. Played in the red light district
(Storyville) of New Orleans
ii. Played in rough, working class black
African-American dance halls
iii. Played in white society and debutante
events
e. Oliver was arrested in 1919, Oliver was
arrested due to a fight that broke out at a
dance he was playing at
i. He decides to leave the Jim Crowe south
f. Oliver eventually settles in Chicago and forms
King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band
i. The band included Louis Armstrong,
Oliver’s protégé
ii. The band included
1. 2 cornets
2. Clarinet
3. Trombone
4. Piano
5. Drums
6. Bass doubling banjo
a. The banjo is an important
instrument we will not have time
to cover in depth
g. The 1920’s saw the band presenting music that
was a hybrid of New Orleans style Jazz as well
as dance music
h. Play Dippermouth Blues, by King Oliver’s Creole
Jazz Band (2:36)
i. Recorded in 1923
ii. Recording includes a young Louis Armstrong
i. Bad business decisions left him working as a
janitor in Georgia, where he eventually died
j. Made his mark as a player and composer
i. Play Oliver’s Weather Bird (2:45)
ii. Recorded by Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines
in Chicago in 1928
k. Louis Armstrong said of “King” Oliver, “If it
had not been for Joe Oliver, Jazz would not be
what it is today.”
l. You will note that we have seen two important
cities that were beds of development for Jazz,
New Orleans and Chicago
m. Joseph Oliver, about 1915
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Joe_King_Oliver_c._1915.
jpg
II.
Louis Armstrong
a. Born in New Orleans
b. Protégé of “King” Oliver
c. Developed a unique style of both playing and
singing
i. Note various techniques such as vibrato,
scoops, use of rests and space, and
“variating the melody”
ii. He was an innovator of improvisation
iii. Because of him, the trumpet became a solo
instrument in Jazz
iv. Helped popularize scat singing
v. Play West End Blues (3:20)
1. Co-written by “King” Oliver
2. Recorded in Chicago in 1928 by Louis
Armstrong & His Hot Five
3. This tune features Armstrong’s
signature trumpet flourish
vi. Play Potato Head Blues (3:03)
1. Written by Armstrong
2. Recorded in 1927 in Chicago by Louis
Armstrong & His Hot Seven
d. Had a recording career that lasted over the
course of five decades
i. Had his own small groups, as well as his
own orchestra
ii. Play I Gotta Sing The Blues (2:57)
1. Recorded by The Louis Armstrong
Orchestra in Chicago in 1933
e. Composed countless Jazz standards
f. Collaborated with countless artists
i. Play George Gershwin’s You Can’t Take That
Away From Me (4:40)
1. This is from a series of recordings
with Ella Fitzgerald
g. Appeared in over 30 movies
h. Prolific writer, including two autobiographies,
articles, memoirs and letters
i. Countless accolades, awards and recognitions
j. Louis Armstrong, London, c. 1934
http://www.satchmo.net/bio/
k. Louis Armstrong's stage personality matched his
flashy trumpet. Armstrong is also known for his
raspy singing voice
http://www.thewineandrosesweddingband.com/images/musicstyle
s/Louis_Armstrong2.jpg
l. Died while a resident of Queens
i. His house is now a museum
Materials of Instruction:
Smart Board
Various Recordings
Summary:
Jazz is a form unto itself, with a varied and profound
legacy. It is uniquely American and in the scope of
Western Art Music, is one of the few genres we as Americans
can claim.
Its growth and development was significantly faster
than that of traditional “Classical” music and has run the
full scope from infancy to avant-garde and experimental in
less than a century. Compare this to the music we have
studied to this point.
Jazz also speaks to the broader culture of America, as
well as its hurdles, such as racial equality and
acceptance.
It is impossible to cover Jazz in anyway thoroughly in
a mere three lessons, and I encourage you to explore as
much as you can on your own.
Assignment:
Visit the Louis Armstrong House and Archives for 5
points extra credit on your 4th Quarter grade. Bring back
admission ticket/receipt.
Bibliography:
The Harvard Brief Dictionary of Music, Willi Apel and
Ralph T. Daniel, Washington Square Press, New York.
1960
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_%22King%22_Oliver
http://www.satchmo.net/bio/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Armstrong
The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz, Volume I,
(c) 1987, Smithsonian Institution, (p) 1987, CBS
records, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, The Best of Ella
Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, (p) 1997 UMG Records
Suggested Reference:
http://www.satchmo.net/
Robert L. Johnston